Lack of control on the morning train

One of my pet peeves is taking the train during peak hour. As we're all painfully aware, the LRT is jam packed and there's hardly any breathing space from 7 - 9 am or so. Add to that the kiasu attitude of many commuters and you're in for a very uncomfortable ride to work.

A couple of mornings ago I was as usual packed in like a sardine on a slow-moving train. I was holding on to one of the poles and there were people pressed up against each other, including me. I tried to create as much personal space as possible using my elbows and handbag but it really wasn't of much use. Each time we arrived at a different station, stubborn commuters would try to squeeze in, squashing us inside even more.

Anyway, a few minutes into my journey, I suddenly felt something against my back. Something hard. Hardening, in fact. It took me a few seconds to figure it out. Usually it's someone's backpack or umbrella, or once in a while, someone's arm so I was slow to react. But then I realised what it was, and turned around to give the pervert a piece of my mind, anticipating some mat gatal pretending to look the other way.

It turned out to be a young fellow in his teens. And he wasn't looking the other way. In fact, he looked directly at me as I turned, with the most apologetic look on his face. His eyes looked so kesian, like they were begging me to forgive him. It was as if he had no control over that part of him and it was happily reacting of its own free will to the effect of being rubbed up against yours truly's behind.

What to do in a situation like that? The guy was young, probably an innocent, couldn't control himself, but couldn't move away either. So I did the only thing I could. I positioned my handbag directly in the line of fire. That way there was no more body contact. I think the guy was super relieved that I didn't make a scene, he actually smiled at me. I quickly turned around and pretended nothing had happened. It may have looked a bit funny to other people, plus my handbag could have been picked, but I think it was better than the alternative.

Maybe the guy was a pervert and this was his modus operandi, but I prefer to believe in his innocence. Otherwise I'd just feel assaulted and violated. I'll keep a lookout for him on the trains again, and observe his behaviour. If he turns out to be a pervert after all, there will be consequences (and perhaps some violence, just to teach him a valuable lesson).

Has this happened to anyone else before? How did you react? Guys, how many of you have been in a similar situation, where you couldn't control your little brother in public? I'd love to hear how you dealt with the situation.

Till next time, this is Kucing Gatal signing out with a rubbed-up-the-wrong-way Meow.